Uber, the white hot car service app, is not worried about the global taxi driver protests, court fines and city-wide bans aimed in its direction--and apparently neither are its investors.

Today the Wall Street Journal wrote that Uber is working to raise up to $500 million in its latest funding round--a number, if achieved, could give the start-up a value topping $12 billion. Possible investors include, according to the Journal's Evelyn Rusli, "Blackrock Inc., private-equity firms General Atlantic and Technology Crossover Ventures, and hedge funds, the people said."

News of Uber's possible $12 billion valuation coincides with a protest by Boston cabbies to boot the taxi app from Beantown. There are also reports that London's black-taxi drivers are in the middle of planning massive anti-Uber protest. And this is in cities where Uber is actually allowed to operate. While hugely popular in New York, L.A and (of course) San Francisco--Uber is currently banned in major cities ranging from Miami to Brussels. Despite the political headwinds, the report of the aggressive $500 million raise shows that Uber chief Travis Kalanick continues to drive forward. And I bet investors will give Kalanick the $10 billion plus valuation he wants.

Here's why:

- Uber is a superior product. It adds true value to both customers and drivers. For customers Uber makes it easier to hail rides, pay fares, and store receipts-- not mention it provides the stress-reducing knowledge of where your car is and when it will arrive. Meanwhile, drivers make more money, have freedom to work when they want and are free of the often-corrupt politics of the human-dispatcher system.

- Uber is disrupting the industry. It makes bad cab cities--L.A., San Francisco, and Boston--as easy to get a ride in as New York. Why rent a car--or even own a car--when you can call an Uber?

- It's an asset-light, cash machine. Numbers leaked to Valleywag last winter--and later confirmed by Uber--showed the company was clearing $20 million in gross revenue a week. And it's a pure middleman--Uber doesn't have the costs of cars, maintenance or driver insurance--which makes for very fat margins.

- Uber could become the operating system for all things logistics. The taxi market is huge, but it might just be the beginning. Uber has staged marketing stunts like dropping off roses on Valentine's Day, on-demand ice cream in the summer and even an ill-fated kitty delivery van. Yes, it all attracted press, but it was also a good test run for new Uber markets that could turn assets like underused delivery trucks and messenger services into new revenue streams.

In short, defensive city commissions and backwards unions will always be on the losing side history when dealing with innovative, experience-improving technology. Kalanick and the smart money know this--and Uber will collect that $500 million fare.

I cover the Forbes Under 30 franchise, technology, entrepreneurs, billionaires and VC's. When I get the chance I write about food and booze too. Previously I edited Forbes's front-of-the-book section "Leaderboard," and was a proud member of the Forbes 400 Wealth Team. Befor...